A/N: i still own nothing. I'm done with my two hardest exams, so I will have more time to write. Yay for that!

Daffodils

Part ten

"Morning mood" by Grieg was one of Rosalie's most favorite pieces to listen, while painting. However, tonight, the mood wasn't quite right. As she splashed with the brush onto the canvas, her thoughts were scattered. The more she tried, the more frustrated she got. Getting an image of Mai there was easy. What was throwing her in fits, was the stupid – she hit the canvas with her brush – arrogant – another throw of paint – idiotic ghost hunter.

Little angel – that's how she had titled him, when they'd first encountered. So cool with that smile of his that she just couldn't help it. Then again – neither could anyone else.

"Done," she said smugly, looking at her creation. Indeed, it was one of her best works. Even if it was compared to her self-portrait or even the book series, this duo was incomparable. She sat down and admired it, waiting for it to dry. Naru would love it, she was certain of it.

After a few hours, the paint was dry. Now all that was left, was the delivery. She floated around, looking if anyone was available. Everyone was busy: Naru was reading his book for the millionth time, sneaking glances at the door and waiting for his precious soon-to-be girlfriend, the girl in mention was making tea and others, she shook her head disapprovingly, were not suited for the job.

Except –. She turned mid-air with a wicked grin. Takigawa was sleeping soundly and it would be perfect, if he were to discover her glorious work.

"Hey, you!" she poked him with her finger. The man turned in his sleep, telling the redhead to leave him alone. Rosalie giggled and pinched his cheek. The man turned, surprised to find himself alone. "Who's there?" he called out. The dead girl replied by making weird, ghostly voices. Like predicted, the man followed.

"Come on now!" she begged, as they were nearing her hiding place. Takigawa was getting sleepy again, which was explained by the lack of rest for the last night. "I swear, you'll thank me for it!" Of course, he couldn't hear her. Yet still, when they reached the wooden gateway to Rosalie's present, he was more than happy to kick it down.

In a moment, he wished he hadn't. The room was full of dust that flew up, hiding what was standing in the middle of it. Rosalie groaned in frustration and waited beside him for the air to clear. When it had, she looked at him expectantly. "So, what do you think?" she inquired, knowing there won't be an answer to an unheard question.

Takigawa dropped his mouth. If there was a door, he would have slammed it shut. He turned slowly, walking with robotic steps the way he had come from. The artist looked at the painting and suppressed a giggle. Oh, how she was going to pay for it later! But later was not now and as far as she was concerned, even her smartest companion could not hurt her, if he could not find her.

"Mai," Takigawa stopped in front of her, before she could enter Naru's office. Hand on door, she turned and smiled at him. "Come with me."

"Sure!" She grinned. "Wait, I'll – "

"Hurry," he said shortly, surprising her. She nodded and turned the knob. When Mai exited a few minutes later, an empty cup in her hand, she was frustrated. She slammed the door shut and stared at the monk who simply ruffled her hair.

"I'm not sure, if it will make you feel better or anything," he warned her. "But I thought you ought to see it, before he did." Mai frowned, but followed regardless. They entered the section Naru had deemed out of reach and she felt guilty of disobeying his rules, but whatever Houshou wanted to show her had spiked her curiosity far too much to turn back now.

It was dusty and she noticed two pairs of footprints in front. One of them was unmistakably Takigawa's, she confirmed, sneaking a look behind her. The other looked like Naru's, but.. What business had the man down there? It couldn't have.. She shook her head, driving away all thoughts of him taking the ghost on on his own. He had just been in his office and he'd stayed there. There was nothing to be afraid of.

The room lacking a door looked darker now than before. It didn't frighten the man, but Mai stared at it suspiciously. "Oh, come on!" Takigawa nudged her forward, lighting a torch and showing the ray of light into the room. The painting was still in the center.

"What –" Mai started, but then noticed it. She gasped for breath and her cheeks flared. "Come on! Let's get rid of it!" She exclaimed, grabbing a cloth Rosalie had left there just for the occasion. "He mustn't see it!" With a red face, she hurried to cover up, when a voice distracted her. A voice she most certainly didn't want to hear.

"Mustn't see what?" Naru looked in, obviously annoyed. "I saw you entering here. I told you not to."

"N-Naru," she stuttered, trying to hide the painting with her body, face becoming one of the loveliest shades of red he had ever seen. He stepped closer, reducing the distance between them. Mai gulped, staring at his beautifully cold face. He shoved her away and as she stumbled on the left, his right hand ripped the cloth from the painting, revealing it to her great horror.

Somewhere, likely in the farthest spot of the grounds, a ghost's full-hearted laughter could have been heard, if there had been any listeners.